It’s Valentine’s Day, and we want to play Cupid! If you think about it, when a buyer goes out to look for a new home, it’s kind of like dating. So how do you get a buyer to commit? You obviously want to put your best foot forward if you want the right one to fall in love with your home. Here are some do’s and don’ts for helping buyers fall in love with your home.
DO make an impression. First impressions matter in life, love, and real estate. You want potential buyers to be wowed by their first look at your home. Make sure to bump up that curb appeal and create an enticing entryway that will make buyers want to see more.
DO showcase your home’s best traits. Make a big deal out of especially attractive features that call for highlighting. Use lighting and staging to draw the eye to your home’s most special characteristics.
DO freshen up. Check out the floors. Are the carpets sort of grungy? Could the grout in your baths and kitchen use a good scrubbing? Are the hardwoods scratched and chipped? Take care of those. Freshening up the flooring by giving it a thorough cleaning or refinishing can do wonders for a space.
DO check your home’s “makeup”. Could the walls use a new coat of paint? Warm up the space with a neutral coat of paint like dove gray, cream, or a diverse “greige.” Why not white, you ask? A hint of color will do a better job of showing off trim, molding, and other details. A great bonus here is that the smell of fresh paint triggers buyers’ minds to think “new.”
DO get cozy. The best way to make a home look cozy is to have it staged. If an empty room seems small, buyers will definitely point it out. Instead, give them an idea of how the room works by staging it with furnishings that accentuate its flow. Use warm tones and textures to suggest comfort.
DO give your kitchen a facelift. Kitchens get the most scrutiny from homebuyers. You don’t have to go out and invest in a fancy double stove or custom cabinets. Think about replacing door knobs and drawer pulls for a quick update. If your appliances suffer from dents and dings but are still in great working order, simply replace the front panel if possible. Change out the backsplash if it looks dated. Little changes make a big difference in the end.
DON’T overdress your house. A perfectly staged home can be very inviting, but be careful not to overdo it. You don’t want buyers feel like they’re in a museum where they can’t touch anything. Also, leave the windows bare if possible. The natural light those window coverings are blocking will work in your favor, so pull those curtains back.
DON’T neglect the little things. Those small repairs add up to make a home appear uncared for and dated. So tighten up those door knobs, secure that bannister, and fix those leaky faucets.
DON’T go overboard on scents. Fragrance is a personal thing. Candles and air fresheners that might smell pleasant to you could turn off certain buyers. Not to mention that an overpowering scent could lead buyers to wonder what you’re trying to cover up with all those candles.
